About Us

Our law firm in the Savannah, Georgia and Fort Stewart, Georgia areas specialize in family law, particularly in the areas divorce, premarital agreements, alimony, paternity, child custody disputes, child support modification, adoptions, and military divorce and family law issues.

18 January 2010 Comments Off

How Are Child Custody Disputes Resolved in Savannah GA

How Are Child Custody Disputes Resolved in Savannah GA

If parents get divorced, there is generally always some disagreement involved as concerning the custody of the children. In a divorce, both parents are usually looking after their own interests more than they are looking after the interests of their children. For this reason, when parties are unable to work the child custody arrangement between themselves, it is up to a judge to resolve the child custody dispute.

How the court in Savannah GA will solve the child custody issue is based on several things. Overall, a judge is generally supposed to be guided by the concept that the child custody dispute must be resolved in the “best interests” of the child. The judge will usually consider numerous elements, such as the living conditions of each of the parents, their lifestyles, the emotional stability of the parents, the emotional bonds that have formed between the child and each of the parents, and other relationship-related issues. A court will also consider if either of the parents will present a danger to the child. Certainly, when a parent has been convicted of child abuse or endangerment, it is unlikely for that parent to be given custody. Actually, most states have specific rules that prohibit a parent who has been convicted of such an offense from being given custody. When the child is old enough, a judge may also consider the child’s wishes when considering a child custody dispute. Generally, a child custody dispute will be sorted out based on much simpler factors.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

17 January 2010 Comments Off

Child Support Rules – attorneys in Richmond Hill Georgia

Child Support Rules – attorneys in Richmond Hill Georgia

Child Support in Liberty County GA Child Support Regulations

All states have child support guidelines that must be used to decide child support except when it is shown, in writing, that doing so is not in the best interest of the child. Many state guidelines take in account the requirements of the child, other dependents, and the ability of the parents to pay. Judges must use the rules unless they can be shown to be inappropriate in a particular case.

Current law requires every child support order to include a provision for health care coverage, and the Child Support Enforcement agency must pursue private health care coverage if such coverage is available through a noncustodial parents employer. Medical support can take several forms.

When one parent is the custodial parent, the other parent almost always is ordered to provide child support. The reasoning is that both parents are responsible for supporting the children, and if the children live with one parent most of the time, chances are that custodial parent may need some help paying for the housing, food, clothing, and everything else the children need. There are official child support rules set out in the statute that must followed in all cases in which the parents are not able to come to an agreement.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

16 January 2010 Comments Off

Child Custody law firm in Richmond Hill GA

Child Custody law firm in Richmond Hill GA

Child custody in Savannah GA

You and your wife may be able to settle the issues of custody and visitation privately or by mediation or collaborative programs. But if you are unable to reach an agreement on your own or by using one of these resources, the only alternative is to have a judge determine the issue for you.

The judge will determine only one question: What is in the best interest of the child? The best interests of the parents are do not matter
You should understand that if you take child issues to court, you are turning over total control of major elements of their future to a judge who doesnt know you or your children. In many cases, the judge has had little or no training in child development or psychology.

Also remember that any agreement which brings goodwill for people who will always be part of your family is miles ahead of something a judge imposes. When your children grow, it will be much easier to alter an agreement that the parents are able to reach on their own.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

15 January 2010 Comments Off

Preparing for a child custody case in Savannah GA Military Divorce attorney

Preparing for a child custody case in Savannah GA Military Divorce attorney

Custody lawyers – Savannah GA

Custody includes physical custody – the right to have the children live with you and legal custody – the right to make decisions about the childs welfare and education. When one parent has both legal and physical custody and the other has fairly limited visitation, the primary custodial parent has sole custody. If both spouses share physical custody, legal custody, or both it is known as joint custody. The joint-custody solution gives a psychological boost to the parent who would otherwise be the noncustodial parent. Joint custody is a viable arrangement only if the parents have an amicable relationship with each other, communicate well, and understand the nuances of their kids day-to-day routines. Parents in such circumstances feel more connected with the childrens lives than the noncustodial parent in the sole-custody arrangement. But, in a family where one parent says black and the other parent says white, the children are better off with a sole-custody arrangement to lower the possibility that their parents will fight over every decision that has to be made on their behalf. When the parents are not on friendly terms, joint legal custody will result in more room for disagreement and continuation of conflict. Such parents are more likely to return to court than sole custody parents.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

14 January 2010 Comments Off

Getting prepared for a child custody case in Richmond Hill Georgia Military Divorce law firm

Getting prepared for a child custody case in Richmond Hill Georgia Military Divorce law firm

Divorce attorney – Savannah GA

Please, understand that a trial must be your final alternative. Custody trials are incredibly painful and difficult for parents and children. If you cannot reach an agreement and have no choice but to have a custody trial, there are few things you must do to prepare for it and help your lawyer present a good case. You must learn to document everything. Maintain a diary and note down each incident that occurs with the other parent in terms of your child, like as missed visitations or times when the child is returned to you dirty. Write down everything you do with your child. This will assit you present evidence of what occurs on a daily basis. You may also use a calendar to record when your child is in each household so that you can quickly reference this information and be show a clear pattern of how your child splits his or her time between parents. Spend as much time as possible with your lawyer going over all the evidence and everything you can testify about. Provide a list of witnesses your attorney can call who will support your case. During the trial, let your attorney handle things, but when someone has said something that is false or if youve just remembered something very important your attorney needs to ask a witness, write a note or ask the attorney if you can have a brief recess.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

13 January 2010 Comments Off

Liberty County GA Divorce attorneys

Liberty County GA Divorce attorneys

Divorce attorneys – Liberty County Georgia

Divorce attorneys to stay away from

There are two kinds of divorce lawyers you should watch out for. One will initiate a child custody action, so as to force the other spouse into giving up more property. The second will initiate various motions, and manufacture conflicts, with the sole purpose of justifying a large bill. Also stay away from lawyers who claim to specialize in fathers rights or womens rights. Many attorneys use that specialization as an advertising gimmick. The best family lawyers usually represent both men and women. Please choose your divorce lawyer carefully.

Dont forget that the objective of custody litigation is to determine the best home environment for the kids. If parents engage in bitter, acrimonious, hostile litigation, they make the transition much more difficult for their children, and they also damage their ability to communicate once the litigation has ended.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

12 January 2010 Comments Off

Liberty County GA Military Divorce attorney

Liberty County GA Military Divorce attorney

Military divorce attorneys – Savannah Georgia

A military divorce is different from a normal divorce as it is governed by both the laws of the state that you live in and by Federal rules. Since a military divorce involves different rules and raises complex issues concerning pensions and other benefits, it is a good idea to consult with a military divorce lawyer rather than a civilian divorce lawyer. Usually, state law determines issues like maintenance, child custody, and visitation. Federal rules determines issues such as child support, property division, and military benefits. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, also called the SCRA, armed forces personnel are protected from all lawsuits as they must devote all of their time and energy to defending our country. The court will generally delay the military divorce proceeding until 60 days after active duty ends. To start any military divorce, the other party shoud be served with the Complaint. Serving a Complaint on someone in the military is different from serving a civilian. If the spouse is on active duty or deployed overseas, you may request that the military serve your spouse. In order for the military to serve the spouse, the spouse should consent to service. If the spouse refuses to consent to having the military serve the divorce Complaint, then you should return to court and request the court to appoint an officer of the court to serve the papers.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

11 January 2010 Comments Off

Savannah Georgia divorce lawyer

Savannah Georgia divorce lawyer

Divorce in Common law marriage attorneys – Richmond Hill GA

Divorce is regulated by state law. GA has strict residency criteria for divorce filings. You should meet the residency criteria if you want to file for divorce in Georgia.

The state of GA recognizes common law marriage if created prior to 1/1/97. In common law, couples who act as if they are married, present themselves out to the world as married, and intend to be married are treated as legally married. Filing joint tax returns, referring to each other as husband and wife, and using the same last name are general indicators of a common law marriage. If you stay in GA and your marriage was created prior to 1/1/97, then you are legally married and must obtain a divorce to end your marriage.

Divorce proceedings are complicated. Any mistake you commit can affect the outcome. First of all, you should be ready for a lengthy fight. The key in approaching divorces is to have realistic expectations, focus on problem solving and do everything you can to assist your own case.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

10 January 2010 Comments Off

Savannah Georgia child support payment lawyers

Savannah Georgia child support payment lawyers

Divorce law firm – Criteria for Spousal support Richmond Hill Georgia

If both parties have a similar income or if the partyseeking spousal support earns more than the other, it is unlikely the Court will award maintenance. So, the spouse requesting requesting alimony must have less earning capacity than the other party for consideration for spousal support. The amount of property one party has over the other will factor into whether that spouse must pay alimony. The Judge is much more likely to award alimony to the party that has custody of the children from the marriage. The longer the duration of the marriage, the higher the chances of being granted maintenance. When one party pays for the others education during the marriage, its unlikely the paying party will have to pay spousal support. If one spouse is unable to maintain that standard of living attained during the marriage, the other party may have to pay alimony. When one party receives a tax benefit from property acquired during the marriage, it will affect the Judges decision on alimony. The Judge attempts to make sure each party leaves the marriage in a similar financial situation. The existence of a premarital agreement will also influence the payment of maintenance.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer

9 January 2010 Comments Off

Savannah GA child support payment lawyer

Savannah GA child support payment lawyer

Child support in Georgia

Child support payments may be calculated on a formula of the non-custodial parents income. But the amount of spousal maintenance granted is decided by the court in each case. In deciding the amount of spousal support to be paid, the judge takes into account many factors, like:
The duration of the marriage
If each spouse can support him or herself independently
Age and general health of the spouses
Since both parties must be treated equally under the law, spousal maintenance is no longer being awarded only to the wife when a marriage breaks down. When a large discrepancy exists between the incomes of the two parties, then the court may grant spousal maintenance to one party in an effort to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage.

When a woman has achieved success in the business world, she may be ordered to pay alimony to her former husband, at least for a short time. Men staying at home to raise their children while their wife works can be provided some kind of financial support until they can find work. If they have been out of the workforce for some time, then their former wife will be looking at making payments for several years to allow the man to go back to school or take a job training course.

Where a person cannot work due to illness or disability the judge can order that alimony be paid for a longer period of time. The court can also order that alimony be paid permanently too.

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Savannah GA Divorce Lawyer
GA Uncontested Divorce – Georgia Contested Divorce
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We specialize in: Georgia Separation Agreements – Spousal Support – Property Division – Alimony – Military Divorce – Contempt Actions in Divorce Cases, Uncontested Divorce, Savannah Georgia Noncontested divorce – Child Custody Attorney / Custody modification – Child Support Modification – Child Visitation

Savannah GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia Family Law Lawyer